Most people try to incorporate #hashtags in their social media posts, but not everyone knows how to maximize their potential. If used incorrectly, hashtags can be ineffective or even detract from your posts. To prevent this from happening, we’ve come up with 5 simple tips on how to make the most out of your hashtags.
Perhaps the biggest rookie mistake is the illusion that more hashtags is better. I mean it opens you up to a wider range of possible searches right? This is true; however, overloading your posts with too many hashtags can be annoying. Not to mention it makes you look desperate for likes and desperation is not very likeable.
Ever read those longer hashtags and struggle to figure out what it says? Hashtags aren’t case sensitive, so sometimes it makes sense to capitalize words to make them easily readable. Eg. #TheDateWasOverWhen
Before using a hashtag in your post, do a little research on the search volume a given hastag is getting. Sometimes you’ll pick what you think is a brilliant hashtag that’s very relevant to your post, but if its getting too much or too little search volume it’s a waste of space. Too much search volume and your post will drown in a sea of other posts. Too little search volume and, you guessed it, no live bodies will see it!
Research and jump on trending hashtags. You’ll find some hashtags that are always trending like #PhotoOfTheDay, #tbt and #nofilter. And some hashtags will be new and growing in search volume like #NationalHighFiveDay or #neversettle. Just make sure the hashtags you use are relevant to your post.
Create your own branded hashtags that are relevant to your business. For us at Iconica, we’ve created hashtags that help to categorize our posts like #iconicaphoto or #iconicavideo. That way if our followers like a certain type of content they can click on that hashtag to see similar posts.
Stephanie Miles
Digital Marketing Manager, Iconica
